Date
8-20-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Human Services: Emphasis in Forensic Behavioral Health
Department
Human Services
First Advisor
Jerrod Brown
Abstract
Sex offender registration laws were created in response to public fear and high-profile tragedies, with the primary goal of enhancing public safety through stringent monitoring of sexual offenders. This paper explores the historical development of these laws, including high-profile cases that later influenced legislative acts, such as the tragic incidents of Jacob Wetterling, Megan Kanka, and Adam Walsh. This paper also explores how media portrayals and public opinion factor into these legislative decisions. While the laws aim to protect the public, they often result in collateral consequences for individuals who have to register. Sex offenders are often held back by barriers to employment, housing, social stigmatization, or various other psychological struggles. By highlighting the real-life impacts of the registration, this paper also aims to question whether these laws truly serve their intended purpose. Finally, this paper offers recommendations for balancing public safety with the protection of offenders’ rights, which includes evidence-based risk assessments to tiered registration systems, public education on sexual offenses, and better reentry & reintegration support.